Container loading machine having automatic carton ejector



Dec. `11, 1951 E D, ANDREWS 2,578,277

CONTAINER LOADING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC CARTON EJEGTOR Filed April26, 1946 4 Sheets-Shee. 1

IN V E NTOR EDWARD D. ANDREWS @n R NEYS Dec. 11, 1951 E. D. ANDREWSCONTAINER LOADING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC CARTON EJECTOR 4Sheets-Shea?, 2

Filed April 26, 1946 IN V ENTOR EDWARD DANDQEWS gc ATTQRNEYS et E A Dec.11, 195? E. D. ANDREWS 2,578,277

CONTAINER LOADING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC CARTON EJECTOR Filed April26, 194e 4 sheets-sheet s l 50 I|||| In A 22 I"I" Ef q im' lNv EN'ronEDwAlzD D. ANDREWS ATTORNEYS Dec.1l, 1951 E D, ANDREWS 2,578,277

CONTAINER LOADING MACHINE HAVING AUTOMATIC CARTON EJECTCR Filed April26, 1946 4 sheets-sheet 4 im j ANVENTR m 5w EDWARD D ANDQEws BY @AWT-@AATTORNEYS feeding the rows into `the `o Patented Dec. l1, 1951AU'roMnTieoAR'roN EJno'roR' Edward D`. ndrews, Akron, 0hio, assignor toThe ""ffQuaker Oats Company, Chicago;- Ill.,v a'corporation ofNew-Jersey y latenten, 1in-i126. mese@ geen V The presentinvention` hasVas its object ythe improvement of machinesfor loading large shippingcontainers with a 4plurality of smaller packagesfor boxs'l Machines oi,this general type are smaller Decke-ees vS11,ceeefsiife reive thereofand A endoithe containen When theNrequisit'evnumber 'of'rows has beenfed ,inte the eentaieergihe ille@ eeiiteiner t is ejected fromthemachine. .Machines euch. es .deeeribed here *hereiefere been voperated by'n a series of clutches, cams or the like and ere not.enlygespensire due te the complicated mechanisms required, te, p erferm.the

operations in exatitimed reletien. but. eil-serecuire frequent,supervision.endmaieienenee- Itis., .the purpose .of -the .inventien ,t0devise a machine bywhieni the. operatiensmeube eei- 19 claims. (o1.22e-14) old and Well known and cperate'upon theprin- 5 cip le ofseparatingfrom thefend of la line of the invention may be employedWherever a number ofarticles of packagesare loaded 'inte la largerreceptacle; Ihernachine shown inthe drawings is 'designed' tolad-ifouifrwscontaining ve Yboxesv each intojeachcontainer, but themachine may be adapted' for loadinganynnmber of rows. each containingany'number 4of articles or `packages, into any type of container: Whilethe drawings show 4theloading ofsquare packages,

fit may be used for loading cylindrical packages.

In the drawings: ligl isi a` plan view ofthe machine. In this View aportion of the' container'has been broken away to show the 'top ofthecontainer tableand ried on with a minimum of rnechanicaldevices therebynot only reducing the initial expense of the equipment; butsubstantiallyv reducing supervision and maintenance. Theobject isobtained by devising a machine in which the package-row feedingmechanism and container-ejecting mechanism are actuated solely by fluidpressure combined with control devices'which cause the feeding mechanismto. function whenever a container is in position and the requisitenumber of packages are in positionat .the mouth yof the container. Thefluid pressure which is employed in Vthe machine shownanddescribedherein is compressed air, although hydraulic or otherpressure means may be used..V The layout of the machine is such that allthat is required of theoperatoris 35 tion. standard commercialyalvesandttings have `been employedthroughout. VThe organization, but thisismnot to be Vunderstood as limiting theinventionfto this armingentrentyfor the machine'may bemodified or i`1nproyed upon Without 5.depertinairem the principles ef .the itil/.entice asset forth intheappendedcla'ims ytion and combination of elements shown and de- ,Serleed`herein ere-the best 1. r iewnepd preferred' means of carrying o ut tthe.objects of the`inventworows of thefour'required tofill the container.The machine isjust atthe point of feeding the third row of packages intothe container.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation Iof the machine looking from. the' right VofFig. 1,` the general plane of the view being' shown by the broken line'22 mFi g .1

Fig., 2a is a section through a portion of the table on thev line'2a`-2`aof"Fig. 1. Figl"3 isa "side elevationiooking at `the machinealongl the broken line 3'-3 in'Fig.' 1.

Fig. i is an elevation looking at"the rear of the machine along the,line 4- 4 of Fig- 1.

Fig'. 5 is a fragmentary View showing a row of thepackagespartiallyentered intothe mouth ofthe container'.

Fg. 6 is a AView on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3 showing the timing mechanismwhich controls the Fig. 7 isa section onthe line, 1- 1 of Fig. 6.

Fig.' 8 is adiagrammatic layout showing" the general arrangement f tl'epressureflins, r`'valves and electrical Wiring by which the` machine isoperated. f

` Fi'g.9 is a further layout showing the positions ofthe valves wheneither the package feeding lever is acting to feed ai'onfoffthe packagesor the container e'jecting lei'er 'is moving to 'eject the filled.carton( The package feeding lever has been selectedffor this vieni,hut'sthe arrangement is thsarn'e for the container ejector.

Muchnf thepiping 'hasbeenomitted from the general views as the locationthereof is"optional and the layouts of niger 'c 'anais Snow the'principles involved UVarious operating partsof lthe machine are carriedupon a 1nairi`ffrarnework l which is" in -th'eA general forrnofltheitt'erll.. andismade up of structural steel sectins' whicli'it isunnecesletter A, supports the package feeding instrumentalities, whilethe wing B, at right angles thereto, supports the container ejectingdevices. Uprights 2 located at the several corners support the frameworkI at a convenient height for the operator and several braces or crossmembers 3 also afford supports for other parts of the mechanism.

At the right of the wing A is the conveyor belt C which is drivencontinuously in the direction of the arrow c in Fig. 1. At the sides ofthe belt are located the two guide rails 5 which terminate just over theedge of the framework I. This conveyor belt receives the packages orboxes D from the filling and sealing machines and carries them to theloading machine where they are pushed in a straight line over a table orplate 6 until they are arrested by the vertical wall 8 carried on thefar side of the framework opposite the discharge point of the conveyorbelt.

The surface of the belt will slip beneath packages which may be arrestedby the wall 8 or by the package loader, to be described. When theforward package in the line comes to a halt against the wall 8, a solidrow of packages will lie across the table Si in position to be fed intothe container.

In alignment with the table 6 is a second table 'l which lies across thewing B. The top of the table 'I is slightly lower than the top of thetable 6 so that when the container is in position the inside lower wallof the container is on the same level as the top of table 5. As shown inFig. 2a the rear edge of the table B is spaced from the table '5, whichis offset, as at la, to provide a Slot 3 to receive the lowermost ilapoi the container E. This arrangement keepsthe flap out of the way of thepackages. The operator places the container on the table 'I with itsopen end toward the left as shown in Fig. 2 and inserts the lower ap inthe slot 9. One side of the container rests against the guide rail I@and the closed end of the container is located against a rear end wallI2. To hold the container in position, the machine is provided with anangular bracket I3 under which one corner of the container is received.rhe operator inserts the container over spreaders which hold the sideand top iiaps open so the packages may enter. The spreader at the frontright-hand corner of the table 6, as viewed in Fig. l, consists of adual angular plate I5 mounted on a post I4 rising from the framework.One portion I6 of the plate I5 holds the end flap outwardly and theother portion Il' holds the top flap up and out of the way. A second armi8, located on a post I9 at the opposite corner of the container, holdsthe other end nap out of the path of the packages.

The several spreaders are mounted so that they project into the path ofthe packages as they are moved into the container, but yield and spreadapart as the packages enter. The parts IS and I8 are pivoted on theposts I4 and I9 and are urged inwardly by coiled springs, one of whichis shown at I8a in Fig. Il. The upper portion I'I is pivotally mountedon a pin IIa secured to the upper end of post I4, and rests by gravityon the upper edge of the portion I6. This arrangement facilitates theinsertion of the packages.

It will be noted that the wall 8 is in alignment with the vertical sideof the container and that the ve packages at the leading end of the roware in register with the mouth of the container.

At this point attention is directed to the two control devices which actto set the machine in motion when two conditions are fulfilled, i. e.,an empty container is in place and a full row of packages is lined up infront of the open container.

These control devices are shown as electrical switches and the operationis controlled electrically in the preferred form of the invention. Itwill be appreciated, however, that air or other fluid control valveswould be the mechanical equivalent thereof and may be employed in theirstead.

The switch 20, which is illustrated in the drawings, may be designatedas the container switch, and is located in an aperture in the top of thetable l. This switch is urged by the spring a in the direction of thearrow appearing in Fig. 8 so that it tends to rise above the top of thetable and in this condition the switch is open, but when a container isproperly located on the table, the switch is closed by the weight of thecontainer.

The switch 22, which may be designated as the package switch, is locatedin an aperture in the wall 8. This switch is also urged by the spring22a. in the direction of the arrow appearing in Fig. 8 so that it tendsto project inwardly of the wall 8 in the position shown in Fig. 5, butwhen the leading package is moved by the belt into position against thewall 8, the switch is depressed and closes.

Referring to Fig. 8, the switches 2!) and 22 are both normally open andin series in the electrical circuit 24 which actuates the solenoid 25that may be located at any convenient point in the machine, such asshown in Fig. 2. While the belt C is in operation, all that the operatoris required to do is to place the empty container in position, which actcloses the switch 2i), and if the row of packages is across the mouth ofthe container, or as soon as the forward package closes the switch 22,the solenoid is energized and the package feeding mechanism starts tofunction.

The package loader or pusher is a relatively large, sheet metal plate 28which is located in alignment with the container. The front face 28a ofthe feeder or loader 28, when idle, is located a short distance in frontof the line of packages D and is of sufncient extent to engage therequisite number of packages. The wing 28h is in alignment with theright-hand inner wall of the container and, therefore, coincides withthe meeting faces of the fifth and sixth packages. It is of sufficientextent so lthat it holds back the oncoming row of packages while makingits feeding stroke.

The loader is carried by any suitable means which supports and guidesits horizontal movement. The means shown comprises the two U-shaped arms30, the upper and shorter branches of which are connected to the plate28 by sockets 3l carried on the cross plate 32 attached to the back ofthe plate 28. The lower and longer branches of the arms 33 are receivedin aligned slide bearings 34 depending from the underside of theframework.

The loader is actuated by a lever 35, the lower end of which is pivotedat 3'! in a bracket 38 attached to one of the lower braces 3. The upperend of the lever 36 is connected to one end of a link 4D, the other endof which is pivotally connected to a bracket 4I secured to the back ofthe loader 28. At an intermediate point the lever 36 is pivotallyconnected to a second `a standard three-way pilot valve 55.

`ing from the main line.

sure through a branch line '62. Fig. 8, the lever 36 is at the extremeouter end of its travel and the left-hand end of the cylmovement of thelever and its elements.

" link.144,the'far endof fwhich -carriesfa piston C45 '(seeFig)movable-in the cylinder 46. g'lhe l'cylinder 4@ is carried on theunderside ofaplate 141 whichis pivoted to one of the;members -3-at thepoint indicated by thenumeral 48 in Fig.y 2. Also pivotally connectedtozthe lever 3,6 isa third link A5i! which actuates thextiming meehanismby which the container ejector functions ,when the fuil complement ofpackages has been vloaded into the container. This will be described ina later portion of the specification.

AThe piston 45 is actuated bythe fluid pressure, compressed air in ythepresent case, when fthe two control devices 2il`22 are actuated. As:noted above, this energizes thesolenoid which,

in' turn, opens a two-Way valve v 52 located in the `main air lineconduit 5d for the package loader.

The opening of thevvalve 52 v introduces airv into Afvalve of this typeis shown diagrammatically in Figs. 8 .and 9. It contains a piston 55which isspring loaded in the direction of thesmall arrow m.

This piston controls a passage through which compressed air passesalongthe line l5'! branch- Thev exhaust port is indicated by the arrown. When the piston 55 is depressed on opening the valve 52, air underpressure ows through the line 5l and moves the piston 58 which operatesthe valve mechanism of a standard four-way valveASiJ. rlhe details ofthis valve are not shown as such valves are available on the openmarket. The valve mechanism is air loaded in the direction of the arrowo so that when the pressure is relieved from the piston 58 the four-wayvalve assumes the position shown in Fig.v 8. When, however,pressure isAadmitted to the top of the piston 58 through the line 51, the pistonmoves in the direction opposite to the arrow o.

The four-way valve receives air under presy- As shown in inder is indirect communication with the line 52 through the conduit (i3, and theright-hand end of the cylinder is in communication with the exhaust pthrough the line 64. Check valves 55 in the lines {i3-54 reduce thespeed of the piston to the desired point so as to avoid too abruptconnected While the lever is moving in the direction of vthe arrow q inFig. 9, the four-way valve is valve 58 in position so that it will bestruck by the lever 35 and openedV when the lever reaches ,the innerlimit of its movement. The location of this valve 68 is shown in Fig. 2.It-is onthe end of a branch line 69 from an extension of` .f the mainline 54 and discharges to the atmos-U phere at r. When the valve 63 isopenedin the manner set forth, the pilot valve 55 opens the line 5l' tothe exhaust n, whereupon thepiston 53 moves to the right in Fig. 8 andthe linev ,52--63 is opened through the four-way valve 6 0,

andthe lever .36 completesitsreturnstroke,

where it will remain until both `switches 2liw22 s; arefagain closed.

.As stated above, the mechanism which has 'The link Eil-is pivotallyconnected at the end -remote `from the lever. 3 5-to a ping12 carried inthe outer ends of rocker arms 13 which are `rotatable on va shaftlmounted in brackets it securedtofone -of the -cross members3. On theshaft 75 ishkeyed the four-step vratchet i8 whichisrotatedintermittently by the paw119 carried Vbythe pin 12.'Iherefore,V as the lever 35 makes eachl return strokeafter movingy a-row of packages into-the 4 container theshaft-75 is rotated airuarterpia-` turn. If` the numberrof rows to fill a containerfwaschanged; theratchet would be changedto havea corresponding number ofteeth.

On the Vshaft is locatedapcam disk 8D having a single cam formationorhumpgl which, in order to givea slight vrdwell after the last loadingstroke, -is located slightly behinda ratchet tooth. Bearing against-`the tace off the.;di sk; 8&1.; in vthe path of the hump-8|, is thelever8 4 which is pressed against the disk by spring 84a.. When the lever B4is moved by the hump 8i this serves to open a third two-way valve which`controls the air circuits which in turnactuate the ejector in themanner to be later described.

The container ejector comprises a plate 9D which, when-retracted, lies-ashort distance to the rear oiguiderail` il!y `inra position to engagethe container. TheplateS isl carried on the ends of the U-shaped arms 9|similar to the arms 30 and similarly mounted except that the upperbranches of the'arms are guided in supplementary brackets 92. Theejector is connected to the pivoted lever which is actuated by thepiston 96 in the pivoted cylinder 91, being connected thereto by-thelink 98. The return movement of the lever 95" is secured by the twowayvalve lil located on the end of the airline 39 in position -to be openedbythe lever at the forward end of its stroke. The lair is supplied tothe ejector operating system from a main line I0! connected vto the line54, at any point,

and receiving air under pressure from a common source.

As the operation of the ejector system is the same as has beendescribedfor the loader system, no additional description is needed. Theequivalent four-way vvalve bears the numeral |02 and the three-waypilotvalve the numeral H13. The major difference between the two systems isthat the two-way valve 85 is opened once to every four openings of thevalve 52 because this is the number of rows of packages which will illthe particular container illustrated and thatthel v alve 85 is camoperated r while the valve, 52 is solenoid operated.

Operation The operator placesthe empty container on the table extension'I with the open end presented to the loader. If the row of packages Dis advanced so that the leading one rests against the vnecessary toi-lllthe., container the` cam disk 8U vopens thevalve 35i-and,v sets in.motion Vthe "ejector B which moves the lled containerpff removal of thecontainer opens the switch 20 and the circuit to the solenoid is brokenand the machine stops until a fresh container is put in place. While thecontainer is in place the circuit is broken each time a row of packagesis moved into the container but it is reestablished whenever the row ofpackages again assumes the position shown in Fig. 1.

It Will be seen that the complete automatic operation of the loader andejector is effected wholly by fluid pressure, in conjunction with theelectrical starting system represented by the switches Eil- 22 or anequivalent thereof. There are no complicated clutches or like mechanicaldevices which have heretofore made machines of this type so expensiveboth as to initial cost and maintenance charges.

The machine shown herein is illustrative of the invention only and it isnot intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment thereofwhich has just been described. The term Hpackage is employed to,incidate all kinds of articles which may be loaded into the container.

As mechanical equivalents for the electrical circuits shown, pressurelines may be used with the substitution of valves and huid-pressureoperated devices as will be understood by a machine designer.

What is claimed is:

l. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a supportfor container, means for positioning a row of articles across the mouthof the container, a reciprocating feeder movable to detach a number ofsaid articles from the row and move them into the container, acontaine-r ejector, a fluid operated means to recip rocate the feeder, asecond fluid operated means to actuate the ejector, and a timingmechanism operated by the feeder to set the second iiuid operated meansin motion.

2. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a supportfor a container, means for positioning a row of articles across themouth of the container, a reciprocating feeder movable to detach anumber of said articles from the row and move them into the container, acontainer ejector, a fluid operated means to reciprocate the feeder, asecond fluid operated means to reciprocate the ejector, and a timingmechanism operated upon a predetermined number of reciprocations of thefeeder to set the second fluid operated means in motion.

3. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a table forsupporting the container, a conveyor operable to advance a row ofpackages across the mouth of the container as it rests upon the table, astop to arrest the row in position in register with the mouth of thecontainer, an electro-magnetic device, a circuit for said device, twonormally, open switches inl series in said circuit one of said switcheslocated so as to be closed by pressure exerts by the container when thecontainer is in position on the table and the second of said switcheslocated so as to be closed when the row of packages reaches the stop, afluid pressure actuated feeder movable across the row of packages toplace them in the container, and valve mechanism actuated by theenergization of electro-magnetic device by the closing of said circuitto set the feeder in motion.

4. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a table forsupporting the container, means to advance a row of packages to apositionV in register with the mouth of the container, a solenoid, anelectric circuit for energizing the solenoid, two normally open switchesin series in said circuit, one of said switches being closed by thecontainer when in loading position on the table, the second switch beingclosed by the packages when in position, a feeder reciprocable acrossthe row of packages toward and from the container, and means to set thefeeder in operation, said last named means being operated by theenergization of the solenoid.

5. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a table forsupporting the container, means to advance a row of packages to aposition in register with the mouth of the container, a solenoid, anelectric circuit for energizing the solenoid, two normally open switchesin series in said circuit, one of said switches being located in aposition to be closed by the container when in position on the table,the second switch being closed by the packages when in position, afeeder reciprocable across the row 0f packages toward and from thecontainer, a piston and cylinder connected to the feeder, and valvemeans actuated by the solenoid to admit iuid under pressure to thecylinder and theren by move the feeder toward the container.

6. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a table forsupporting the container, means to advance a row of packages to aposition in register with the mouth of the container, a solenoid, anelectric circuit for energizing the solenoid, two normally open switchesin series in said circuit, one of said switches being located in aposition to be closed by the container when in position on the table,the second switch being closed by the packages when in position, afeeder reciprocable across the row of packages toward and from thecontainer, a piston and cylinder connected to the feeder, and valvemeans actuated alternately by the solenoid and by the movement of thefeeder to admit iiuid under pressure to opposite ends of the cylinderand thereby reciprocate the feeder.

7. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a table forsupporting a container, means to advance a row of packages to a positionin register with the mouth of the container, a feeder reciprocableacross the row of packages toward and from the container, a piston andcylinder connected to the feeder, and valve means having an actuatingelement located at the table and in position to be set in operation bythe container when in loading position on the table and additional meansactuated by the packages when in register with the container to admitfluid under pressure into one end of the cylinder and thereby cause thefeeder to move toward the container.

8. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a table forsupporting the container, means to advance a row of packages to aposition in register with the mouth of the container, a feederreciprocable toward and from the container, a piston and cylinderconnected to the feeder, and valve means set in operation alternately by(i) the presence of the container when in loading position on the tableand the packages when in register with the container and (2) Iby thefeeder at the end of its forward stroke to admit iiuid under pressure toopposite ends of the cylinder and thereby cause the feeder toreciprocate.

9. A loading machine of the type described for inserting rows ofpackages in a container conrprisin'g:` aifreciprocable l package`vfeeder: movable toward:` and from4 the mouthoff the container, a.reciproca'cl'e" ejector for the container,

a piston and cylinder connected to the feeder,

a second piston and` cylinder'v connected to the ejector, `valve meansset. inA motionbythe; positioning of the container andthe packages inthe path ofthe feeder to. admit. fluid pressure to the rst cylinder, to'reciprocate the feeder, and a second valve meansv set in motion by thefeeder after ithas made a predeterminednumber of strokes toadmit iiuidlpressure; t the second cylinder to reciprocate the ejector.

10..A loading machine for` inserting rows of articles in a container,comprising a reciprocable article feeder movable toward and from the'mouth of the container, a reci'procable ejectorfor the container, apiston and'-1 cylinder connected to the feeder, a second piston andcylinder connected to the ejector, an electro-magnetic device, a circuitto said device, said circuit being normally open but constructed andadapted to be closed by the positioning of the container and thearticles in the path of the feeder, valve means set in motion by thesaid device to admit fluid pressure to the cylinder to reciprocate thefeeder, and a second valve means set in motion by the feeder after ithas made a predetermined number ofistrokes to admit fluid pressure tothe second cylinder to reciprocate the ejector.

il. In a machine of the character described, a table for supporting acontainer, a reciprocable feeder for inserting rows of articlessuccessively into the container, a reciprocable ejector for thecontainer movable in a path intersecting the line of movement of thefeeder, fluid pressure means to actuate the ejector, valve mechanism tocontrol said fluid pressure means, and a timing mechanism actuated bythe feeder and operable after a predetermined number of strokes of thefeeder to set the valve mechanism in motion and thereby cause theejector to operate.

12. In a machine of the character described, a table for supporting acontainer, a reciprocable feeder for inserting rows of articlessuccessively into the container, 'fluid pressure means to actuate thefeeder, a reciprocable container ejector movable across the table, asecond uid pressure means to actuate the ejector, a set of valves tocontrol the rst named fluid pressure means and a second set of valves tocontrol the second named fluid pressure means, and a timing mechanismactuated by the feeder and operable after a predetermined number ofstrokes of the feeder to operate the second set of valves and therebycause the ejector to reciprocate across the table.

13. A container loading machine comprising the combination of atable forsupporting a container, means to advance a row of packages to a positionin register with the mouth of the container, two control devices, one ofsaid control devices being actuated by the presence of the containerwhen in loading position on the table, the other control device beingactuated by the packages when they are in position at the mouth of thecontainer, a feeder reciprocable across the row of packages toward andfrom the container, and means to operate said feeder set in motion bythe joint action of the said control devices.

14. A container loading machine comprising the combination of a tablefor supporting a container. means to advance a row of packages toaposition; iny register" withY theg-mouthz o frl the container, two`control devices, one of said? controf-devices being: actuated bythecontainelf. when in loadingposition on the. table, the othercontroldevice being actuated by7 the packagesywhen they are in positionat the mouth of the container, a feeder reciprocabie across the rowV ofpackages toward and from the'container, and means to operate saidfeederA` seti in motion by the. joint'. action. of the said controlldevices, a container-ejector, and a` timing deviceA controlled bythefeeder andoperable upon a predetermined number of` operations of thefeeder to actuate the container-ejector,

15. A container loading machine comprisingv the combinationy offa tablefor supportinglaA container, means/.to advance a row of packages to aposition in register with' thek mouth of the oon-,-` tainer, two controldevices, one of said control devices being actuated by the presence ofthe container when in loading position on the table, the other controldevice being actuated by the packages when they are in position at themouth of the container, a fluid-pressure actuated feeder reciprocableacross the row of packages toward and from the container, and means tooperate said feeder set in motion by the joint action of the saidcontrol devices 16. A container loading machine comprising thecombination of a table for supporting a1 container, means to advance arow of packages to a position in register with the mouth of thecontainer, two control devices, one of said control devices beingactuated by the container when in position on the table, the othercontrol device being actuated by the packages when they are in positionat the mouth of the container, a fluidpressure actuated feederreciprocable across the row of packages toward and from the container,and means to operate said feeder set in motion by the joint action ofthe said control devices, a fluid-pressure actuated container-ejector,and a timing device controlled by the feeder and operable upon apredetermined number of operations of the feeder to actuate thecontainer-ejector.

17. A container loading machine comprising the combination of astationary support for a container, means for positioning a successionof groups of articles across the mouth of the container, a reciprocatingfeeder to shift a group of said articles into the container while thecontainer is on the support, an ejector for removing a filled containerfrom the support, fluid operated means to actuate the ejector, and atiming mechanism operated by the feeder to actuate the ejector upon apredetermined number of reciprocations of the feeder.

18. A container loading mechanism comprising the combination of astationary support for a container, means for positioning a successionof groups of articles across the mouth of the container, a reciprocatingfeeder to shift a group of said articles into the container while thecontainer is on the support, an ejector for removing a lled containerfrom the support, two normally open switches in series, one switchlocated in position to be closed by the container on the support and thesecond switch located in position to be closed by the group of packageswhen in position in front of the container, means to actuate the feederonly when both switches are closed, fluid operated means to actuate theejector, and a timing mechanism operated by the feeder to actuate theejector upon a predetermined number of strokes of the feeder.

19. A container loading machine comprising the combination of astationary support for a container, means positioning .a succession ofgroups of articles across the mouth of the container, a reciprocatingfeeder to shift a group of said articles into the container while thecontainer is on the support, fluid operated means for reciprocating thefeeder, an ejector for removing a lled container from the support, twonormally open switches in series, one switch located in position to beclosed by the container when in loading position on the support and thesecond switch located in position to be closed by the group of packageswhen in front of the container, means to actuate the said fluid operatedmeans only when both switches are closed. and timing mechanism toactuate the ejector upon a predetermined number of strokes of thefeeder.

EDWARD D. ANDREWS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,568,082 Mitton Jan. 5, 19261,740,893 Hoyt et al Dec. 24, 1929 1,976,128 Hurst Oct. 9, 19342,053,418 Braren Sept. 8, 1936 2,109,294 Kimball et al Feb. 22, 18382,124,962 Ferguson et al. July 26, 1938 2,319,167 Stewart May 11, 19432,470,795 Socke May 24, 1947

